Cat problem dogs Rosendale

ROSENDALE - Supervisor Patrick McDonough says he will consider whether cat control problems being experienced by a family on East Road merit changes in local law.

At a Town Board meeting Wednesday, Andrea Ade said her family has exhausted legal remedies to keep seven to 11 of her neighbor's cats from causing property damage.

"I don't think it's a huge request that I have to just look at what ordinances can be put in place to have somebody be responsible for damaging others' property," she said.

McDonough said he would check with town police to determine whether there have been complaints from other residents.

"It's hard to change a town law when it's based on one incident," the supervisor said. He said new regulations could be written "if we hear complaints coming from all around the town and people are coming to us and telling us this is something that we need to start looking at."

Ade's husband, Reggie, has previously said the problem has existed for seven years. He said recent damage to a freshly painted car prompted request for more stringent controls.

"I would like the cat owners to be subject to same laws that I am for keeping my dog off other people's property," he said. "I'm responsible for my dog and I think there should be some reasonable regulation for cat owners."

McDonough said he would review police responses because "it looks like you and your neighbors have a very serious situation going on." He suggested mediation through animal rights groups.

McDonough said he has received no guidance from the state Department of Environmental Conservation on dealing with nuisance cats that are not feral.

"The DEC does say pretty clearly that it's an almost impossible thing to do to control cats," he said. "They don't consider them domestic animals."